From TinWiki.org
Hypnosis
|
|
|
|
Hypnosis is a trance-like mental state that is induced by an organized pattern of verbal suggestions, beginning with the suggestion of relaxation. The suggestions may be induced directly by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject or be self-induced (Self-Hypnosis). Hypnosis is a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness.
Hypnosis may bring about changes in subjective experience and alterations in perception, sensation, thought, emotion, or behavior. The hypnotic state may also encourage changes in the body; it has been used as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, as an alternative to chemical anesthesia, and as a way to sooth skin ailments.
Self-hypnosis is popular with people who want to lose weight, quit smoking, and reduce stress.
Uses
Hypnosis has been studied in many clinical situations with varying degrees of success.
- Physical Applications
- Used as a painkiller
- Burns
- Bone marrow aspirations
- Childbirth
- Cancer
- Chronic conditions
- Used to control nausea
- Treatment of skin diseases (called Hypnodermatology)
- Warts
- Psoriasis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy as an adjunct therapy for weight loss
- Psychotherapeutic Applications
- Self Hypnosis
- Increase motivation for a diet
- Increase motivation to quit smoking
- Stress reduction
- Reduce stage fright
- Promote relaxation
- Enhance physical well-being
- Hypnotherapy
- Use of hypnosis in psychotherapy
- Used by licensed physicians and psychologists
- Used to treat:
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Other Uses
- Stage hypnotism: used for entertainment for crowds
- Forensics
- Sports
- Education
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
Theories
Theories abound as to why hypnosis works.
- Social Constuctionism Theory
- Claims that hypnosis is a form of learned social behavior
- Role Playing Theory
- Suggests that individuals are playing a role
- Proposes that there is no such thing as hypnosis
- Dissociation of Consciousness
- Hypnosis is an example of dissociation
- Removes some control from the conscious mind
- Individual responds with autonomic, reflexive behavior
- Neuropsychology
- Under hypnosis, highly susceptible subjects show significantly more brain activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (area of the brain that responds to errors and evaluates emotional outcomes)
- Under hypnosis, highly susceptible subjects showed much greater brain activity on the left side of the prefrontal cortex (area of the brain involved with higher level cognitive processing and behavior)
- Conditioned Process
- Belief that hypnosis is a "partial sleep"
- Belief that hypnosis depends on changes of environmental stimuli
- Hyper-Suggestibility
- Subject focuses attention by responding to the hypnotist's suggestion
- Subject gradually accepts hypnotist's words without conducting any conscious censorship of what is being said
- Information Theory
- Based on the "brain-as-computer" model
- Hypnosis works by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio
- Systems Theory
- Hypnosis works by enhancing or depressing the activity of the nervous system
External Links
Relevant discussion threads on AboveTopSecret.com
